Imagine a starting Toronto Argonauts backfield of Ricky Williams and John Avery?

Ricky was feted like royalty at his introductory Toronto Argonauts press conference Sunday afternoon as the owners, team president and coach trumpeted his arrival as a role model for Toronto youth.

“We all know Ricky Williams is special on the field but what I’ve learned in the last couple of days is that Ricky Williams is more special off the field. Working side by side with the legendary [Argonauts coach] Mike ‘Pinball’ Clemons, I can categorically foresee how influential these two men can be to Toronto’s youth,” said Argos team president Keith Pelley. "Ricky has made mistakes, but he will be the first to tell you he has learned from those mistakes. You only have to spend 10 minutes with him to understand. On behalf of the entire Toronto Argonauts organization, we welcome Ricky to our team.”

Ricky posed with his new No. 27 jersey, eschewing his Dolphins No. 34 because nine (two plus seven) is a more "positive number.”

Ricky then went into a five-minute parable about a king who cut off his thumb but the message was that "everything happens for the best.” The king was about to be sacrificed by a forest tribe before they noticed the missing thumb, cancelling the sacrifice because he was "unpure.”

Hopefully, Williams won’t be all thumbs when he’s handed the ball on those wide CFL fields.

Williams admitted that the Dolphins had nothing to gain from him playing an 18-game season in the CFL, and he praised Dolphins coach Nick Saban for leaving the decision up to him. It was a no-brainer for Ricky.

He’s only made about $270 grand since the end of the 2003 season. He owes the Dolphins $8.6 million for ditching the 2004 season to find himself. He has three kids with three different mothers, with a fourth on the way, and because he is a responsible dad, he needed the $240,000 from the Argos. That doesn’t include the unwritten cash he’ll make on the side, and the potential of more bucks on memorabilia.

The Argos are like a welcome wagon for NFL vagabonds. They already have offensive tackle Bernard Williams and receiver R. Jay Soward, former first-round draft picks who had their NFL careers cut short due to violations of the league’s substance-abuse policy.

Also, Argos receiver Robert Baker, who played for the Dolphins in 1999 and 2002, spent 10 months in prison for distributing and trafficking cocaine.

"It’s a good situation for the man to get an opportunity to play football," Soward told the Toronto Sun. "This is a good way for him to move forward with his life and do positive things.

"It’s not like he’s strung out on cocaine or he’s alcoholic or he has killed somebody in a [driving under the influence] or anything like that," Soward said. "It was simple mistakes.”

Ricky actually snuck into the city 10 days ago to check it out and see if he would fit in. He even took in a Blue Jays-White Sox game the other night.

“I am excited to begin this new chapter of my life. Everyone I have met with the Toronto Argonauts organization has been extremely welcoming and kind, from the owners to management to the football staff. I am looking forward to join my new teammates at training camp and get to know them and the city of Toronto. I can’t wait to hit the field and take part in community events as an Argo,” Williams said.

Williams went out of his way to praise Saban for letting him play.

"A lot of times in professional sports and any kind of big business, employers are accused of looking at employees as not being people,” he said. "Respecting me and honoring our relationship he voiced his opinion that he doesn’t necessarily condone what I’m doing but he’s not going to get in the way to stop me. I have even more respect for the organization and Nick Saban for allowing me the chance.”

By the way, Avery, a first-round pick by then Dolphins coach Jimmy Johnson, gained more than 500 yards his rookie season, but was relegated to two kick returns in ‘99 before drifting off to the shortlived World League and CFL.

Avery gained over 900 multipurpose yards with five touchdowns last year. Baker had 70 catches for 1,065 yards and four TDs last season.

Coach Clemons isn’t called Pinball for nothing as he was all over the place in a rambling welcome to Williams.

“When a signing of this magnitude becomes a topic of discussion, there is always both excitement and trepidation and it is imperative that we fully investigate both the pros and cons, not only for our organization but our League as a whole. I’ve personally given this considerable consideration and unequivocally understand my personal position. This, however, did not satisfy my concerns for our League and our fans. That is, until I met Ricky Williams. He is quite literally one of the kindest and most thoughtful persons I have ever spent time with. He is a kindred spirit, a man after my own heart, whose articulated desire is to serve others. Interestingly enough, I haven’t said anything about his physical talents because it is Ricky Williams the man that is most impressive."

So Dolphins fans, do you feel it’s a plus for the Dolphins that Williams plays in the CFL instead of having all that idle time to spent in Australia tents and India retreats? Or do you think they’ll get back damaged goods next season?

Comments (19 Comments)

Bro i think its great hes able to play football for the argos. I think its better for him then that holistic medicine hes studying. That will help him get in football shape and ready to play for the phins in 07. I wish him the best.

Avery actually blew out his knee in 2003 while with the Minnesota Vikings, before he signed with the Argonauts. He underwent reconstructive surgery but has still been bothered by it, though he started 17 games and rushed for 974 yards that season. His problems in the 2004 and 2005 seasons were more hamstring and groin issues that only resulted in him missing the occasional start prior to sitting out for this past years playoffs.
You also neglected to mention the fact that the Argos signed Eric Crouch this off season to back up Damon Allen at QB as well. With him and Ricky that’s two former Heisman winners in one off-season; not a bad haul by my count. I would almost be curious to see the Argos play one of the weaker NFL teams and see how they stack up.
Oh and I’m in Toronto, in case you were wondering why I bother to keep tabs on this stuff.

I am happy for Ricky. Hopefully this will be a new start for Ricky and he realizes his mistakes finally and takes responsiblility for his actions.
Stay healthy Ricky. Look forward to seeing you back with the Phins.

Good for Ricky. I think it would have been mighty crappy for the Dolphins to not allow him to earn a lurcrative living while banned from the NFL. Understandable. But crappy nonetheless. Fortunately, Ricky plays for a 1st class coach and organization.
From a football standpoint, I think the Dolphins benefit mightily from the year in the CFL. He will undoubtably stay in football shape, taking football hits and existing in a football environment. I think this season in Toronto will further reinvigorate Ricky. Assuming he doesn’t get hurt, he’ll be a much better player when he returns than if he sat at home or abroad.

Dolphins’ fans need to forget Ricky Williams. By the time he is eligible to return to Miami, Ronnie Brown will already be a star back in the NFL and Ricky will just be an aging reserve who gets a token carry here and there to give Ronnie a breather.
Ricky seemed like the only good move from the Wannie era, but now as Williams suits up for the TORONTO ARGONAUTS and not the Dolphins…well, that says it all.

Nobody can predict the future, but things may be very bright for Ricky Williams.
For those that don’t know, the CFL is revered as one of the last pro leagues who’s athletes still have their feet on the ground, not their heads in the clouds. Tyrell Owens need not apply.
During a recent $1,000,000 field goal kicking contest (at a 2006 Argo game half time show), players from both teams remained on the field to watch the contestant ultimately win. When asked why they stayed and watched, one responded: “Hey, that’s 10 years salary for most of us!” How may pro athletes can say that? Four years salary for Ricky Williams, the Argonaut. Four months for Ricky Williams the Dolphin.
Maybe with his feet on the ground for one season, Ricky will return to Miami a much better man.

Hey, we welcome Ricky here in the CFL. Its a cool league and he will enjoy it. Plus its a smart move on Rickys part, at worst he blows a knee or some such, but he could fall in the shower or get hit by a bus… at average a year goes by , he keeps in shape and hes back in the NFL.. at best he lights it up and rekindles some hype in his on-field play again and returns with a swagger. Will be interesting to watch him play with Damon Allen, arguably one of the best ever quaterbacks in any league.

I think the year in the CFL is good for Ricky, not only from a physical conditioning standpoint, but because he’ll be in a structured environment with something to focus on. I think he is one of those people who makes bad choices if he’s left to his own devices!

I’m glad that Ricky can go play football in Canada. I hope he does well, in fact really well. Maybe a good season will make him more enticing as a trade. Since Ricky has been a fin he did win a rushing title, but the fins haven’t been to the playoffs since Ricky’s arrival, although we had been there the previous six consecutive seasons. Ricky’s episode the year before the last and all the negative publicity it brought along should be enough reason to help Ricky find another team.

Just what we needed. Another reason to hate Joe Theisman. (“Ricky is a disgrace”)…
So the wife-beaters, plea-copping to murder charges guys, drunks, juiced up 360 pound line-men, they are all fine, and can stay and play ball, and Ricky should just go away and not have a right to earn a living?
Can Joe keep his mangled foot out of his mouth for just once?

Joe Theismann is a self-righteous punk.
I agree with David Gaines. Ricky hs a right to earn a living!
For the thousandth time, Ricky quit the Dolphins because he did not want to play for Dave Wannstedt! If other players would come forth a say that, then people would understand.
Is there any surprise that Saban is standing by Ricky? I read a report that through NFL circles, Ricky Williams was being punished for criticizing the hypocrisy of the league which includes Mr. Theismann.
We still don’t know what Ricky got popped on. That should tell you something right there!
I say that we fire off emails to ESPN about his comments and then we protest him being in the booth during Monday Night Football.
It’s no secret that Thiesmann doesn’t like the Dolphin organization. We’re the ones that told ghim he wasn’t good enough to be an NFL Quarterback and he went to Canada. He wasn’t even the best quarterback in Canadian History. That honor goes to Warren Moon and Doug Flutie.
Theismann is a jerk! I say we protest!

I read somewhere that Theismann was a fourth round pick of the Dolphins, but opted to play in the CFL. Then he goes on to complain how Ricky let the Dolphins down, he did the same thing by bailing on the Dolphins & going to the CFL. Obviously Theismann doesn’t know what Coach Saban does about this past failed test. As much as I love Ricky & want to see him in a Dolphins uniform for the rest of his career, I don’t think Coach Saban would be so supportive of Ricky if he thought he was guilty of this past test. Why Theismann thinks he knows everything is beyond me. I think he’s a loud mouth who doesn’t have enough weight in his brain to keep his mouth shut. Joe must have never heard the saying ‘That it is better to be thought of as a fool, then to open your mouth & prove that your a fool’.

Good move Ricky. Everything happens for a reason and if you’re meant to have a great year in Canada and return that much better , then great he will. Then again, if he is meant to blow a knee and stay an agro. Then,that will be, also, but I think Rick’s new found will and determination will return him to us safely. That and another year for Ronnie to improve. BAM!!! Imagine the awesome 1-2 punch. It’s OUR TIME!

Good move Ricky. Everything happens for a reason and if you’re meant to have a great year in Canada and return that much better , then great you will. Then again, if you’re meant to blow a knee and stay an Agro. Then,that will be also, but I think Rick’s new found will and determination will return him to us safely. That and another year for Ronnie to improve. BAM!!! Imagine the awesome 1-2 punch. It’s OUR TIME!
GOOOO DOLPHINS!!!
SORRY DISREGAURD THE MESSAGE ABOVE THIS ONE.

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About the author

OMAR KELLY was unsuccessful at achieving his childhood dream to become a super hero, so he figured he'd do the next best thing and become a journalist who fights against injustice, and searches for truth. After being bored to death reporting news and covering politics, he switched to sports.
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IZZY GOULD joined the Sun Sentinel in Feb. 2012 as a Senior Sports Reporter on the Miami Dolphins beat. He came to South Florida fresh off covering the University of Alabama football program, including its 2011 national championship team. More